U.S. patent application number 14/345165 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for method for configuring and/or checking the operability of a machine having a gearbox, and control programme.
The applicant listed for this patent is Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Georg Boeing, Ulrike Tschepa.
Application Number | 20140343709 14/345165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46682841 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140343709 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boeing; Georg ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
METHOD FOR CONFIGURING AND/OR CHECKING THE OPERABILITY OF A MACHINE
HAVING A GEARBOX, AND CONTROL PROGRAMME
Abstract
In order to provide information for the functioning of housing
bores or openings on a gearbox, pictograms are displayed on each
housing bore or opening on a graphic user interface depending on
the installation position, said pictograms displaying the
respective functioning of the individual housing bores or
openings.
Inventors: |
Boeing; Georg; (Rottenburg,
DE) ; Tschepa; Ulrike; (Rottenburg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft |
Muenchen |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
46682841 |
Appl. No.: |
14/345165 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 15, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/065962 |
371 Date: |
March 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 30/00 20200101;
G05B 19/0405 20130101; F16H 57/00 20130101; G05B 2219/25056
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/98 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/04 20060101
G05B019/04; G06F 17/50 20060101 G06F017/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 15, 2011 |
EP |
11181435.6 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A method for at least one of configuring and checking
operability of a machine having a gearbox, comprising: storing in a
control file a three-dimensional image of a gearbox to be installed
in the machine, wherein in the control file metadata identifying
mounting-position-dependent functions of housing bores or housing
openings associated with a lubricant supply system of the gearbox
are associated with the three-dimensional image, loading the
control file into a computer-based configuration or operability
checking unit with which a graphical user interface is associated,
displaying on the graphical user interface the gearbox contained in
the loaded control file in a manner that allows a mounting position
of the gearbox having a predefined position or orientation to be
configured, in response to a user input of a selected mounting
position, displaying the gearbox contained in the control file on
the graphical user interface using pictograms on the housing bores
or the housing openings for matching to permissible connection
areas of the machine, wherein the pictograms each visualize a
respective function of the housing bores or housing openings
associated with the selected mounting position.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the
three-dimensional image of the gearbox as object data in the
control file, loading the control file into the configuration or
operability checking unit together with object data representing a
machine configuration, and displaying the loaded control file on
the graphical user interface.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mounting-position-dependent
functions of the housing bores or housing openings associated with
the lubricant supply system of the gearbox comprise ventilation,
lubricant drainage and lubricant level inspection.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pictograms displaying the
mounting-position-dependent functions on the graphical user
interface are displayed in a position on top of plug screws of the
housing bores or housing openings.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pictograms displaying the
mounting-position-dependent functions on the graphical user
interface are displayed in a position adjacent to plug screws of
the housing bores or housing openings.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration or operability
checking unit is associated with a server processing unit, wherein
the graphical user interface is associated with a client processing
unit, and wherein the server processing unit and the client
processing unit are interconnected via a communications
network.
14. A control program embodied in a computer-readable
non-transitory medium and stored in a memory of a processing unit,
said control program comprising at least one code segment that,
when executed by a processor of the processing unit, causes the
processing unit to store in a control file a three-dimensional
image of a gearbox to be installed in the machine, wherein in the
control file metadata identifying mounting-position-dependent
functions of housing bores or housing openings associated with a
lubricant supply system of the gearbox are associated with the
three-dimensional image, load the control file into a
computer-based configuration or operability checking unit with
which a graphical user interface is associated, display on the
graphical user interface the gearbox contained in the loaded
control file in a manner that allows a mounting position of the
gearbox having a predefined position or orientation to be
configured, in response to a user input of a selected mounting
position, display the gearbox contained in the control file on the
graphical user interface using pictograms on the housing bores or
the housing openings for matching to permissible connection areas
of the machine, wherein the pictograms each visualize a respective
function of the housing bores or housing openings associated with
the selected mounting position.
Description
DE 10 2004 030 032 A1 discloses a method for configuring and
parameterizing an automatable machine, wherein different technology
objects are graphically represented as model components. A
mechatronic signal flow between technology objects is defined on a
graphical user interface by means of connections which link inputs
and outputs of technology objects.
[0001] U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,043 describes a system for visualizing,
identifying and ordering gearing configurations. The system
comprises a computer device and an associated display device on
which a selected gearing configuration is visualized. The selected
gearing configuration is displayed in different orientations
supplemented by descriptors or identifiers. Information to be
displayed on the display device is retrieved by the computer device
from a database using identifiers and provided on the display
device. The display device and the computer device are disposed
remotely from one another and interconnected by a communications
network.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,627 discloses a data processing system
having a storage unit in which text and graphics information
concerning products administered by the data processing system is
stored. This text and graphics information includes, for example,
product specifications, features or advantages. The data processing
system has an associated display unit on which parts of the text
and graphics information are selectively displayed for information
and reference purposes. To this end, a menu-driven selection
function is provided which allows navigation through the text and
graphics information on the basis of product specifications.
[0003] Geared motors have a large number of housing openings or
bores which have different functions depending on mounting
position, e.g. for oil drainage, ventilation or oil level
inspection. Information about the respective function can be
obtained from catalogs and operating instructions. However, the
process of selecting this information constitutes a possible source
of error which can result in incorrect function assignments.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to specify a method
for configuring or checking the operability of a machine having a
gearbox, said method enabling sources of error due to incorrect
function assignments to be reduced, and to specify a technical
implementation of the method.
[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a
method having the features set forth in claim 1 and by a control
program having the features set forth in claim 7. Advantageous
developments of the present invention are detailed in the dependent
claims.
[0006] For configuring or checking the operability of a machine
having a gearbox, a three-dimensional image of a gearbox to be
installed in a machine is inventively stored in a control file. The
image in the control file is assigned metadata which characterizes
mounting-position-dependent functions of housing bores or openings
assigned to a gearbox lubricant supply system. The
mounting-position-dependent functions of the housing bores or
openings assigned to the gearbox lubricant supply system can be
e.g. ventilation, lubricant drainage and lubricant level
inspection. The control file is loaded into a computer-based
configuring or operability checking unit to which a graphical user
interface is assigned. In addition, a gearbox contained in the
control file is displayed on the graphical user interface in a
configurable manner in respect of its mounting position predefined
by its position or orientation. In response to a user input of a
selected mounting position, the gearbox contained in the control
file is displayed on the graphical user interface using pictograms
on the housing bores or openings for matching to permissible
connection areas of the machine. Said pictograms each visualize a
housing bore or opening function assigned to the selected mounting
position. In this way, incorrect function assignments can be
eliminated.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the pictograms visualizing the
mounting-position-dependent functions are displayed positioned on
plug screws of the housing bores or openings on the graphical user
interface. This allows particularly rapid and reliable function
assignment. According to an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, pictograms visualizing mounting-position-dependent
functions can also be displayed positioned adjacent to plug
screws.
[0008] The three-dimensional image of the gearbox is preferably
stored as object data in the control file. According to a further
development of the present invention, the control file is
additionally loaded into the configuring or operability checking
unit together with object data representing the configuration of
the machine and displayed on the graphical user interface. In this
way, positions of housing bores or openings can be particularly
reliably and simply matched to permissible connection areas of the
machine.
[0009] In addition, the configuring or operability checking unit
can be assigned, for example, to a server processing unit, while
the graphical user interface can be assigned to a client processing
unit. In this case the server processing unit and client processing
unit are interconnected via a communications network. This ensures
efficient and consistent provision of information concerning
functions of housing bores or openings on a gearbox or geared
motor.
[0010] The present invention will now be explained in greater
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for configuring and checking the
operability of a machine having a gearbox,
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an example of a system for carrying out the
method illustrated in FIG. 1,
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a gearbox in a first mounting
position on a graphical user interface of the system depicted in
FIG. 2,
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the gearbox according to FIG. 3
displayed on the graphical user interface in the first mounting
position,
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a view from below of the gearbox displayed on
the graphical user interface in a second mounting position,
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the gearbox according to FIG. 5
displayed on the graphical user interface at the second mounting
position,
[0017] FIG. 7 shows an overview of a total of 6 mounting positions
of a geared motor.
[0018] According to the flow chart shown in FIG. 1 for configuring
or checking the operability of a machine having a gearbox, object
data representing a three-dimensional image of the gearbox is
assigned to metadata (step 101) which characterizes the
mounting-position-dependent functions of housing bores or openings
assigned to a gearbox lubricant supply system. In this example, the
mounting-position-dependent functions of the housing bores or
openings assigned to the gearbox lubricant supply system are
ventilation, lubricant drainage and lubricant level inspection.
After assignment of metadata and object data, these are stored
according to step 102 in a control file which forms the basis for
providing a catalog (step 103) containing a plurality of gearbox
types or models. An example of such a catalog is the internet-based
eKat design catalog system which is used for creating, storing and
displaying design catalogs. Design catalogs are knowledge stores
created from a methodological standpoint which are systematically
organized within a certain framework and allow selective access to
their contents. Design catalogs are also used for suggesting or
adopting solutions by systematic assignment of known solution
features to conditions of particular performance requirements. For
example, information about physical effects, operating principles,
basic solutions for complex tasks, machine elements, standard parts
or materials is stored in design catalogs.
[0019] In this example, the catalog is provided on a graphical user
interface 228 shown in FIG. 2 of a client processing unit 202 by a
server processing unit 201 for selecting a gearbox to be installed
in a machine according to step 104. In a single workstation
variant, the catalog can basically also be provided on a graphical
user interface 219 of the server processing unit 201.
[0020] The server processing unit 201 and client processing unit
202 are interconnected via a communications network 203, e.g. the
Internet. When a gearbox is selected, an associated control file
217 is loaded into the server processing unit 201 as a configuring
or operability checking unit (step 105). In step 106 the gearbox
contained in the control file 217 is then displayed on the
graphical user interface 228 of the client processing unit 202 in a
configurable manner in respect of its mounting position predefined
by its position or orientation. In response to selection of a
desired mounting position according to step 107, the gearbox
contained in the control file 217 is displayed on the graphical
user interface 228 using pictograms on the housing bores or
openings (step 108). In this example the pictograms 2-4 on the
graphical user interface are displayed positioned on plug screws of
the housing bores or openings. Alternatively to being displayed on
plug screws, the pictograms 2-4 can also be displayed in the
vicinity of plug screws. According to step 109 of the flow chart
shown in FIG. 1, as part of verification of the gearing
configuration or of operability checking, the housing bores or
openings are then matched to permissible connection areas of the
machine.
[0021] According to FIGS. 3-6, the pictograms 2-4 each visualize a
function of the housing bores or openings of the gearbox 1 that is
assigned to the mounting position selected. In the case of the
first mounting position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a gearbox serving
as an example is mounted on a horizontal surface. In contrast, in
the case of the second mounting position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
the gearbox is mounted below a horizontal surface. According to the
overview shown in FIG. 7, comprising a total of 6 mounting
positions M1-M6 of a geared motor containing a gearbox, the geared
motor can basically be mounted on a lateral surface of a virtual
cube in each case. A mounting position M1-M6 is here assigned to
each lateral surface.
[0022] In FIGS. 3-6, a first pictogram 2 symbolizes a lubricant
level inspection hole, a second pictogram 3 a lubricant drain hole
and a third pictogram 4 a vent hole. According to the first
mounting position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lubricant level
inspection hole and lubricant drain hole are disposed on the same
side of the housing, whereas the vent hole is provided on an
adjacent side of the housing. In the case of the second mounting
position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vent hole and lubricant level
inspection hole are disposed on the same side of the housing,
whereas two lubricant drain holes are provided on an adjacent side
of the housing.
[0023] The above described method is preferably implemented by a
control program 216 which can be loaded into a main memory 212 of
the server processing unit 201 and has at least one code segment
that can be processed by a processor 211 of the server processing
unit 201. On execution of said code segment, steps 101-109 of the
flow chart shown in FIG. 1 are carried out when the control program
216 is run in the server processing unit 201. The server processing
unit 201 additionally comprises an input/output unit 213 linked to
the graphical user interface 219, and a bus system 214 which is
accessed by the processor 211, main memory 212 and input/output
unit 213. The control program 216 and the control file 217 are
persistently stored on a hard disk 215 of the server processing
unit 201. Extensive catalogs containing gearboxes can also be
stored in a separate database 218 which is assigned to the server
processing unit 201.
[0024] The client processing unit 202 likewise comprises a
processor 221, a main memory 222, an input/output unit 223, a bus
system 224 and a hard disk 225. Stored on the hard disk 225 is a
browser program 226 for displaying catalog contents 204 provided by
the server processing unit 201 via the communications network 203,
and a user-specific control file 227 containing object data
representing a configuration of the machine. To control catalog
contents 204 provided by the server processing unit 201, the client
processing unit 202 transmits appropriate control commands 205 to
the server processing unit 201 via the communications network 203.
The user-specific control file 227 can also be loaded into the
server processing unit 201 as a configuring or operability checking
unit together with the control file 217 via the communications
network 203.
[0025] The application of the present invention is not limited to
the exemplary embodiment described.
* * * * *